Feeding apparatus and image forming system

Abstract

A feeding apparatus comprises a locking unit for locking a connected state between an image forming apparatus and the feeding apparatus; an operating unit to which a force is applied in a separating direction in order to separate the feeding apparatus from the image forming apparatus and configured to perform an unlocking operation of unlocking the locking unit by being operated upon application of the force in the separating direction; and a handgrip unit provided at a position different from a position of the operating unit and to which a force is applied in the separating direction in order to separate the feeding apparatus from the image forming apparatus. The handgrip unit extends in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to a first horizontal direction and is arranged at a position at least partially overlapping a position where the operating unit is arranged with respect to the first horizontal direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A feeding apparatus capable of feeding a sheet to an image forming apparatus when connected to the image forming apparatus and moving in a separating direction of separating the feeding apparatus from the image forming apparatus in a first horizontal direction, the feeding apparatus comprising:
 a locking unit for locking a connected state between the image forming apparatus and the feeding apparatus; 
 a first handle unit to which a force is applied in the separating direction manually in order to separate the feeding apparatus from the image forming apparatus and configured to perform an unlocking operation of unlocking the locking unit by being operated upon application of the force in the separating direction; and 
 a second handle unit provided at a position different from a position of the first handle unit and to which a force is applied in the separating direction manually in order to separate the feeding apparatus from the image forming apparatus, 
 wherein, as viewed in the first horizontal direction, the second handle unit is arranged at a position at least partially overlapping a position where the first handle unit is arranged. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first handle unit and the second handle unit are arranged closer to a side where an operator operates the first handle unit than a center of the feeding apparatus with respect to the second horizontal direction. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the first handle unit and the second handle unit is arranged at a position closer to a side of the image forming apparatus than a center of the feeding apparatus with respect to the first horizontal direction, and the other is arranged at a position farther away from the image forming apparatus than the center of the feeding apparatus. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second handle unit is arranged at a position farther away from the image forming apparatus than the first handle unit with respect to the first horizontal direction. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second handle unit is formed to have a concave shape. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second handle unit is formed to have a surface with an incline ascending in the separating direction. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second handle unit is formed to have a surface which is perpendicular to a horizontal plane on a side of the image forming apparatus with respect to the first horizontal direction. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first handle unit is arranged at a position farther away from the image forming apparatus than the second handle unit with respect to the first horizontal direction. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first handle unit and the second handle unit are formed in an upper surface portion of the feeding apparatus. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first handle unit and the second handle unit are formed between an upper surface portion of the feeding apparatus and an uppermost position when sheets are stacked in the feeding apparatus. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second handle unit is formed integrally with an outer portion of the feeding apparatus. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second handle unit is formed to have a convex shape in an upper surface portion of the feeding apparatus. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second handle unit further functions so as to perform the unlocking operation of the locking unit when separating the feeding apparatus from the image forming apparatus. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second handle unit comprises a plurality of second handle units in the first horizontal direction. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second handle unit is configured to be movable in the first horizontal direction. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an interval between the first handle unit and the second handle unit is defined in accordance with a size of the feeding apparatus. 
     
     
       17. An image forming system comprising:
 an image forming apparatus configured to form an image; and 
 a feeding apparatus capable of feeding a sheet to the image forming apparatus when connected to the image forming apparatus and moving in a separating direction of separating the feeding apparatus from the image forming apparatus in a first horizontal direction, 
 wherein the feeding apparatus comprises:
 a locking unit for locking a connected state between the image forming apparatus and the feeding apparatus; 
 a first handle unit to which a force is applied in the separating direction manually in order to separate the feeding apparatus from the image forming apparatus and configured to perform an unlocking operation of unlocking the locking unit by being operated upon application of the force in the separating direction; and 
 a second handle unit provided at a position different from a position of the first handle unit and to which a force is applied in the separating direction manually in order to separate the feeding apparatus from the image forming apparatus, wherein 
 the first handle unit and the second handle unit are arranged at a predetermined interval in the first horizontal direction of separating the feeding apparatus from the image forming apparatus, and 
 as viewed in the first horizontal direction, the second handle unit is arranged at a position at least partially overlapping a position where the first handle unit is arranged. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the image forming apparatus includes a projecting portion provided to project from the image forming system to an outside, and
 the first handle unit and the second handle unit are arranged at a position where an operation by an operator when separating the feeding apparatus from the image forming apparatus is not impeded by the projecting portion. 
 
     
     
       19. The system according to  claim 17 , wherein one of the first handle unit and the second handle unit is arranged at a position closer to a side of the image forming apparatus than a center of the feeding apparatus with respect to the first horizontal direction, and the other is arranged at a position farther away from the image forming apparatus than the center of the feeding apparatus. 
     
     
       20. The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the second handle unit is arranged at a position farther away from the image forming apparatus than the first handle unit with respect to the first horizontal direction.